Effect of carbonization temperature on the yield and porosity of char produced from palm shell

Abstract

Abstract Several batches of chars were prepared from palm shell by carbonization in a flow of nitrogen using a fixed‐bed reactor. Palm shell was carbonized at temperatures of 500, 600, 700, 800 and 900 °C for 1 h to study the effects of carbonization temperature on char yield and its porosity. The prepared chars were characterized for the micropore volume using CO 2 adsorption while the meso‐ and macropore volumes were analyzed using a mercury porosimeter. The char yield was around 25% and is comparable with yields reported from other lignocellulosic materials. The results show that carbonization temperature has a significant effect on the micro‐ and mesopore volumes. However, it has negligible effect on the macropore volume. © 2001 Society of Chemical Industry